Almost 18 walked kilometres, a few tube rides, two nights spent on a night bus, visiting the Balenciaga exhibition, seeing amazing street art, eating croissants and doughnuts, stopping in different stores, a couple of super strong rain falls, and just wandering around London. That's pretty much our Thursday in London in a nutshell. Although on Friday morning we were two very shattered girls getting out of the bus, the mini getaway was really successful overall, and London just as lovely as always. Every time I visit London I can't help but say how I just can't get enough of the city, and that I will most definitely be back again ♥︎

Our only must-see destination was the Balenciaga exhibition at Victoria & Albert museum. I definitely enjoyed the exhibition, and it made me think and look at modern fashion in a bit different way too.

Covent Garden was full of beautiful flower arrangements. If we wouldn't have felt and looked absolutely shattered after only a few hours of sleep, we definitely would've had a little photoshoot in front of this flower wall.

I'm part of that group of people, for whom it is difficult to ask for help, show their vulnerability, or admit that they're having a bad day. Whether it's about big or small things, I've always been the girl who manages and survives on her own. And who wants to manage on her own, even if help was being offered from all possible directions. I don't know whether this is because I'm the oldest of four kids and therefore I've always been used to taking quite a lot of responsibility and being independent, or whether it's down to the fact that I just thoroughly enjoy feeling strong, powerful, and independent. I always strive towards being upbeat, happy and nice to be around, partly because I don't want to spread the negativity and feeling of being annoyed around me, and partly because I know that at some point or another I know I'll feel better, kind of like in a 'fake it 'til you make it' way.

Last week, however, I had one of those days when, despite having slept properly, I woke up in the morning feeling super tired for some reason, and throughout the day every single little thing seemed to annoy me more than would've been necessary. The man in Primark who smelled really bad and sweaty, the people feeding the pigeons, and so many other things just got me really annoyed and angry. And of course what added to my annoyance was that I was letting such tiny little things affect me so strongly and negatively. That day I felt anything but strong, independent and upbeat. But at some point of the day I realised and accepted the fact that I just happened to have a really bad day then, which is something everyone occasionally has. And that's ok. Even if it might seem like that to the outside world, no-one is always in a good mood or has the time and energy to handle basically anything and everything in a superhuman kind of way. And to quote my mum, 'you don't have to survive and manage on your own'. Even if it's just a tiny little thing that annoys you, talking about it and letting it out really helps and purifies. On that specific bad day I was having, I also relied to the 'sleeping helps' -advice that my mum is an advocate of, and the next day I woke up without the annoyance, feeling strong and like myself again.

In a great contrast to the topic of this post are these strong 'Girlboss'-like pictures, but maybe that's exactly the reason why I think they work so well together! Back home I shot two sets of very different photos with Mum for a project of hers, and both sets are definitely up there in my favourites. I'll be sharing the other ones a little later on the blog too :)

Arriving back to Glasgow I had a lovely little surprise parcel waiting for me in the mail. As some of you might remember, before going back home I wrote about my little train adventure to Ayr to visit the Cherry Soda store, and now the lovely girls from the store had sent me a couple of products from their selection. I will be collaborating with Cherry Soda in the future too, and it's so nice to get to work with a small, independent, family-owned business like this!

In the parcel there were these beautiful golden Pilgrim goodies, decorated with multicoloured stones. As I mentioned in my previous post, brighter accessories are something I've been really getting more into lately, and these are definitely an easy and safe way to add a little bit more colour into my looks. I was especially excited to find these ear crawlers in the package because the model is something I've been thinking about and admiring on others for quite some time now, but I've been a bit sceptical as to whether I'd actually use them myself after all. However, I've already used these dainty and simple Pilgrim versions multiple times already, so luckily I now finally have ear crawlers in my jewellery collection too. Cherry Soda also offers a 20% discount to my readers on all the products on their website with the code 'PINJA20', and alongside Pilgrim you can also shop Swarovski, Michael Kors, Katie Loxton, Edblad, Orli, and so many other brands on there. Oh, and they do ship internationally, so no matter where in the world you are you are able to get your jewellery and accessory orders delivered! :)

Here's yet again one of those outfits that could be put into my 'uniform' category. Different white tops are hands down the dominating element in my wardrobe, and I'm wearing one of them at least five times a week. Another dominating element in my wardrobe is jeans. I've got pairs that are black, white, blue, distressed, relaxed, super tight... Jeans are something I might actually use even more often that those white tops, and that's why I like to have multiple options to choose from to keep things more interesting. Although my closet is already stocked with different pairs of jeans, I'm still dreaming about a few models that I'm yet to own. Those perfectly fitting blue jeans, mom jeans and fringed-at-the-hem jeans to name a few. And besides those traditional two legged denims I've been getting really into denim skirts lately, although I think I swore I'd never put one on ever again as I used to spend all of my childhood summers in denim skirts. But just think about how good the denim skirt would look with a nice white top! ;) With white tops and jeans only the sky is the limit when it comes to accessories, and different colours and prints are a nice and easy way to add a little something to a basic look. At the moment I'm really into eye-catching bags and scarves but statement earrings are also something I've had my eye on lately. A white top, a pair of jeans and a good eye-catching accessory - that's pretty much all you need for my signature uniform.

I'm sure I'm not the only Finn who lived her childhood surrounded by Moomins. I dare to even say, that if not all then at least the vast majority of Finnish children have grown up with Moomins, either by reading the books or watching the cartoon on TV. Outside the actual broadcasting time, in our household we also used to watch good old Moomin VHS, and I definitely still remember some of the best episodes (and the theme music!) by heart.

I haven't been watching nor reading Moomins for years anymore, but instead my interest towards Moomins has shifted on to the design side, partly because of what I study. Moomin prints in clothes, accessories as well as in tableware always make me feel a bit nostalgic, patriotic even. For me, Moomins mean home, Finland, and a certain kind of safety and the carefreeness of childhood, and I'm always so thrilled to spot anything Moomin related in somewhere unexpected and somewhere else than in Finland.

However, Moomins are still often considered a bit childish and glaring, and it is true that there are way more Moomin products made for children than for adults. And it's exactly because of that glaringness and childishness of most Moomin products, why I haven't had anything Moomin related in my simple Scandinavian wardrobe, although the idea of having something Moomin patterned has crossed my mind a few times. Nevertheless, the Finnish design agency Mozo has recently launched a Moomin by Mozo collection that updates Moomin products to a more grown up and toned down style. The collection consists of backpacks, totes, leather pouches, as well as tablet and phone cases, and the colours and prints are targeted exactly to a more grown up taste. The collection is available e.g. in Stockmann, Helsinki airport, small boutiques around Finland, and in the Mozo webshop that ships worldwide. The products are also sold on all Finnair airplanes, and I was quite excited to spot the products on the Finnair catalogue when flying back to Scotland last Wednesday.

Although all of the products are primarily muted, the Moomin references still add a bit of friskiness to them. But it's definitely nothing over the top, and for example this small leather pouch that I'm wearing in the pictures is very suitable for everyday public wear, and fits well to my simple Scandinavian style. Because of Moomin by Mozo collection I'm now able to carry a small piece of home, Finland, and the easiness of childhood with me, in a way that fits my personal style, wherever in the world I am.

Back in Glasgow again! The three weeks back home in Finland went by super quickly, but no wonder as the weeks were full of fun activities. I didn't take any lifestyle-y snapshots with my camera, but instead my phone is full of lovely Finland moments and pictures, so I'm sharing some of those with you right now!

It was also amazing to finally meet some of the lovely Finnish blog girls! I had lunch with Ida, accidentally bumped into Janina at a workshop hosted by Veera in the restaurant VENN, and also happened to sit at the same cafe at the same time with Johanna. I also met the gorgeous Reettafor burgers and some shopping.

Luckily the three weeks were not only rainy and grey, but there were a few sunny and summery days in the mix too! I also managed to get a bit of a tan by just having morning coffee outside on the terrace and walking around in the city centre.

I definitely wanted to see the For Fashion's Sake exhibition at EMMA Museum, and we headed there one morning with my dad and sister. Oh and yeah, after a visit to the hairdresser's my hair is finally a whole lot shorter!

I was so excited to get to see and visit all the new cafes, restaurants, and stores in Helsinki. The Finnish design shop on Aleksanterinkatu was full of inspiration, and I also finally got to tick Paulig Kulma and &Other Stories off from my list.